The Dutch capital packs a 17th-century canal ring, world-class museums (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Anne Frank House) and a medieval core into a compact, flat city best seen on foot or by bike. Residents eat herring from street carts, Surinamese broodje pom and Indonesian rijsttafel, and drink in brown cafes; the local life is in De Pijp, the Jordaan, Oost, West and across the IJ in Noord.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01Rijksmuseum
- 02Anne Frank House
- 03Van Gogh Museum
- 04Dam Square and National Monument
- 05Royal Palace Amsterdam
- 06Oude Kerk
- 07Our Lord in the Attic
- 08Stedelijk Museum
History & museums 27
- Our Lord in the Attic
- Rijksmuseum
- Dutch Resistance Museum
- Museum of the Canals
- Royal Palace Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum
- Anne Frank House
- National Maritime Museum
- NEMO Science Museum
- Rembrandt House Museum
- Eye Film Museum
- H'ART Museum
- Jewish Museum and Portuguese Synagogue
- Museum Van Loon
- Museum Willet-Holthuysen
- Oude Kerk
- Stedelijk Museum
- Westerkerk
- Huis Marseille
- Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
- Foam Photography Museum
- Dam Square and National Monument
- Amsterdam City Archives
- Begijnhof
- Electric Ladyland
- Het Schip
- Noorderkerk
Where to eat 55
- Rudi's Original Stroopwafels
- Taco Lindo West
- De Silveren Spiegel
- De Kas
- Frites Huys Amsterdam
- Haring & Zo
- Hollands Hap Hmm
- Poffertjes Albert Cuyp
- Sir Hummus
- The Pantry
- Lanskroon
- nNea Pizza
- The Lebanese Sajeria
- Jacketz
- Moeders
- Restaurant 't Zwaantje
- Thai Bird Snackbar
- Vleminckx de Sausmeester
- Winkel 43
- De Hapjeshoek
- Eetsalon Van Dobben
- Fou Fow Ramen
- Leeman Doner
- Restaurant Blauw
- Wilde Zwijnen
- Cafe Loetje
- The Pancake Bakery
- Cafe-Restaurant Amsterdam (Cradam)
- Warung Spang Makandra
- FEBO
- Auberge
- Barracuda
- Cafe Caron
- Café Parlotte
- Caffe Toscanini
- Cannibale Royale
- Fa. Pekelhaaring
- Frens Haringhandel
- Gitane
- Hoi Tin
- Hotel de Goudfazant
- Kwie Kwie
- Meatless District
- Nam Kee
- Namche
- New Draver
- Restaurant Hendrik
- Rijsel
- Roopram Roti
- Scheepskameel
- Sea Palace
- Stubbe's Haring
- Thai Thai Poppetje
- Tjin's Toko
- Troef
Night out 26
- Proeflokaal Arendsnest
- Wynand Fockink
- Brouwerij 't IJ
- Cafe 't Smalle
- Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
- Hiding in Plain Sight
- OT301
- Paradiso
- Door 74
- Bar Bukowski
- Cafe Hoppe
- Melkweg
- RADION
- Canvas
- Garage Noord
- Bimhuis
- Cafe Brecht
- Cafe Chris
- Cafe de Dokter
- Café de Sluyswacht
- Cafe de Twee Zwaantjes
- Cafe Nol
- De Drie Fleschjes
- De Druif
- GlouGlou
- Soundgarden
Locals only 36
- Brouwerij De 7 Deugden
- STRAAT Museum
- Amstelpark
- Amsterdamse Bos
- Flevopark
- Park Frankendael
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Foodhallen
- Hortus Botanicus
- NDSM Wharf
- Westergas and Westerpark
- Houseboat Museum
- Noordermarkt and Westerstraat market
- Pllek
- Dappermarkt
- Hannekes Boom
- Oudemanhuispoort book market
- Ten Katemarkt
- Back to Black
- Cafe 't Sluisje
- De Bakkerswinkel
- De Koffieschenkerij
- Distillery 't Nieuwe Diep
- Javastraat
- LAB111
- Latei
- Meneer Nieges
- Mezrab
- NEMO roof terrace
- Nieuwendammerdijk
- Orgelpark
- Pompet
- Sauna Deco
- Tolhuistuin
- Vondelbunker
- Wertheimpark
Walking routes 6
- 01Old centre: Centraal, the Wallen and Dam to the BegijnhofThe medieval core in one loop: hidden church, the oldest parish church, Chinatown, Dam Square and a secret courtyard, with a jenever stop.
- 02De Pijp food-grazing walk: market, broodje pom and bakeriesEat your way through De Pijp like a resident: fresh stroopwafels, poffertjes, Surinamese sandwiches and roti, a bakery and a neighbourhood park, ending at a natural-wine bar.
- 03Canal ring and Jordaan: Anne Frank to the Nine StreetsThe UNESCO canal belt at its prettiest: the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, a houseboat, the Jordaan's markets and apple pie, then the Nine Streets and a canal museum.
- 04Jewish Quarter and Plantage to the windmill breweryRembrandt's house, the Jewish Cultural Quarter, the botanical garden and the Resistance Museum, finishing with a beer under a windmill in Oost.
- 05Across the IJ: free ferries to Eye, Noord and NDSMUse the free GVB ferries behind Centraal to see the modern, local side of the city: film museum, garden venue, shipyard street art and a beach bar.
- 06Jordaan brown-cafe crawlFive historic brown cafes and a Dutch-only craft beer bar, from a 1624 beer house to neon-lit sing-along bars.